Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article You love me Wednesday, December 30, 2015 1 John 2:12, 15-17 I am writing to you, children, because your sins have been forgiven for his name's sake ... Do not love the world, or the things of the world ... The world and its desires are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever. In a moment of considered, thoughtful, lavish affection, my friend called me humble. In my humility I wasn't so sure. The world and its desires take a toll on me every single day. Fear, denial and self-protective pride are ugly in my mirror-mirror on the wall. But his words made us both think about humility, and where it comes from. Not so much an achievement on our part, but more a gift. Like forgiveness. Humility and forgiveness are gifts without compare, given in love by our Father to his kids. We can claim them both without fear. We often refuse them because we've done nothing to deserve them. That's like spitting in our Father's face. Hasn't that happened to me, as both a son and a dad? And to you? I've refused my dad when he was just being generous and watched his smile crumble and his heart get crushed. And I've given myself away, now and then, only for my gift to be refused. What crashing sorrow. I have no business being proud of my humility, but I'm responsible for appreciating it, gift from God that it is. Thank you, Don, for making that clear to me. Lord, we end each day asking for the gift of your forgiveness, and receiving it. And we begin each new day in humility, another gift that comes straight from your heart to each of us. Make me receptive like a sponge so I can soak it in every morning. "; Add      Edit    Delete